Electrocardiogram noise reduction

ABSTRACT

Methods and systems of catheterization include a flexible catheter adapted for insertion into a heart of a living subject. The catheter has a lumen for passing an electrically conductive fluid therethrough, which is propelled by a peristaltic pump. A fluid reservoir connected to the lumen supplies the fluid to the catheter. Electrocardiogram circuitry is connectable to the subject for monitoring electrical activity in the heart. An electrically conductive cable diverts induced charges in the fluid from the catheter electrodes, for example by shorting to a rotating element in the peristaltic pump.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to medical catheterization. More particularly,this invention relates to electrocardiographic monitoring during medicalcatheterization procedures.

2. Description of the Related Art

The meanings of certain acronyms and abbreviations used herein are givenin Table 1.

TABLE 1 Acronyms and Abbreviations ECG Electrocardiogram PIU PatientInterface Unit RF Radiofrequency

Medical catheterizations are routinely carried out today. For example,in cases of cardiac arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation, whichoccur when regions of cardiac tissue abnormally conduct electricsignals. Procedures for treating arrhythmia include surgicallydisrupting the origin of the signals causing the arrhythmia, as well asdisrupting the conducting pathway for such signals. By selectivelyablating cardiac tissue by application of energy, e.g., radiofrequencyenergy via a catheter, it is sometimes possible to cease or modify thepropagation of unwanted electrical signals from one portion of the heartto another. The ablation process destroys the unwanted electricalpathways by formation of non-conducting lesions.

A known difficulty in the use of radiofrequency energy for cardiactissue ablation is controlling local heating of tissue. There aretradeoffs between the desire to create a sufficiently large lesion toeffectively ablate an abnormal tissue focus, or block an aberrantconduction pattern, and the undesirable effects of excessive localheating. If the radiofrequency device creates too small a lesion, thenthe medical procedure could be less effective, or could require too muchtime. On the other hand, if tissues are heated excessively then therecould be local charring effects due to overheating. Such overheatedareas can develop high impedance, and may form a functional barrier tothe passage of heat. The use of slower heating provides better controlof the ablation, but unduly prolongs the procedure. Commonly assignedapplication Ser. No. 13/339,782, which is herein incorporated byreference, discloses the use of an irrigation pump to cause irrigationfluid to flow through a lumen of the catheter in order to cool theablation site.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is provided according to embodiments of the invention acatheterization system, which avoids spurious electrical interference inelectrical monitoring circuitry when a peristaltic pump is operating toirrigate an ablation site. The system includes a flexible catheteradapted for insertion into a heart of a living subject. The catheter hasa lumen for passing an electrically conductive fluid therethrough toexit the catheter at its distal portion, the lumen connectable to anirrigation pump to form a fluid communication therewith. A fluidreservoir is connected to the lumen for supplying the electricallyconductive fluid to the catheter. Electrocardiogram circuitry isconnectable to the subject for monitoring electrical activity in theheart. An electrically conductive cable links the electricallyconductive fluid to an electrode that is in contact with the subject.

According to an aspect of the system, the catheter has mappingelectrodes disposed on the distal portion and the electrode is locatedon the catheter proximal to the mapping electrodes.

According to a further aspect of the system, the electrode is located ona second catheter that is introduced into the subject.

According to one aspect of the system, the catheter has an inlet port,and a connector electrically contacts the electrically conductive fluidat the inlet port, and connects the electrically conductive fluid to apatient ground.

According to another aspect of the system, the electrically conductivecable is electrically connected to the electrically conductive fluiddownstream of the irrigation pump.

According to an additional aspect of the system, the electricallyconductive cable is a metallically shielded cable.

There is further provided according to embodiments of the invention acatheterization system, including a flexible catheter adapted forinsertion into a heart of a living subject. The catheter has a lumen forpassing an electrically conductive fluid therethrough to exit thecatheter at its distal portion. A fluid reservoir is connected by ahydraulic line to the lumen for supplying the electrically conductivefluid to the catheter. The system includes a pump for propelling theelectrically conductive fluid to the lumen of the catheter. The pump hasa rotating element that acts upon the hydraulic line. An electricallyconductive cable forms an electrical connection between the electricallyconductive fluid in the hydraulic line and the rotating element.

According to an additional aspect of the system, the rotating element ismetallic.

According to another aspect of the system, the rotating element isformed from a ceramic.

According to yet another aspect of the system, the rotating element isformed from a polymer.

According to still another aspect of the system, the rotating element isformed from an acetal homopolymer.

According to yet another aspect of the system, the electricallyconductive cable connects to the frame of the pump.

According to still another aspect of the system, the electricallyconductive cable connects to the rotating element of the pump.

According to an additional aspect of the system, the rotating element iselectrically non-conductive.

According to one aspect of the system, the electrical connection withthe electrically conductive fluid is downstream from the pump.

According to a further aspect of the system, the electrical connectionwith the electrically conductive fluid is upstream from the pump.

According to one aspect of the system, a portion of an outer surface ofthe hydraulic line is coated with an antistatic chemical, including theportion contacting the outer surface with the rotating element of thepump.

According to one aspect of the system, the contacting portion of anouter surface of the hydraulic line is coated with an antistaticchemical selected from the group consisting of soap water, saline andwater.

According to a further aspect of the system, the contacting portion ofan outer surface of the hydraulic line is coated with an electricalconductor.

There is further provided according to embodiments of the invention amethod for monitoring electrical activity, which is carried out byconnecting a reservoir of an electrically conductive fluid to aperistaltic pump having a rotating element, wherein the peristaltic pumpexerts a force on a hydraulic line to cause the electrically conductivefluid to flow through the hydraulic line. The method is further carriedout by connecting electrocardiogram circuitry to the subject, forming anelectrical connection between the electrically conductive fluid and theperistaltic pump, and while operating the peristaltic pump, monitoringelectrical activity in the heart with the electrocardiogram circuitry.

Yet another aspect of the method a portion of the hydraulic line iscoated with an electrical conductor and the portion in contact with therotating element.

According to still another aspect of the method, the electricalconductor is indium tin oxide.

According to an additional aspect of the method, the electricalconductor is aluminum foil.

In a further aspect of the method the outer surface of the contactingportion of the hydraulic line is coated with a material containingliquid water and an ionic surfactant.

An additional aspect of the method includes coating an outer surface ofa portion of the hydraulic line with an anti-static chemical additive.

According to still another aspect of the method the contacting portionof the hydraulic line is impregnated with an anti-static chemical.

According to one aspect of the method a portion of an outer surface ofthe hydraulic line is coated with an anti-static chemical and includesthe portion in contact with the rotating element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is madeto the detailed description of the invention, by way of example, whichis to be read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein likeelements are given like reference numerals, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial illustration of a system for performingcatheterization procedures on a heart of a living subject, which isconstructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of aspects of a cardiac catheterizationirrigation system that illustrates electrical events that occur duringoperation, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a test arrangement for measuringelectrocardiogram noise reduction, in accordance with an embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a connector for establishing electricalcontinuity between fluid and an electrical cable, which is constructedin accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a system for reducing electrocardiogramnoise, in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 shows three charts of recorded ECG data when the system shown inFIG. 5 is in operation, in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic of a system for reducing electrocardiogram noise,in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an infusion system, in accordance withan alternate embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of an arrangement of an infusion system,in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth inorder to provide a thorough understanding of the various principles ofthe present invention. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art,however, that not all these details are necessarily always needed forpracticing the present invention. In this instance, well-known circuits,control logic, and the details of computer program instructions forconventional algorithms and processes have not been shown in detail inorder not to obscure the general concepts unnecessarily.

Aspects of the present invention may be embodied in software programmingcode, which is typically maintained in permanent storage, such as acomputer readable medium. In a client/server environment, such softwareprogramming code may be stored on a client or a server. The softwareprogramming code may be embodied on any of a variety of knownnon-transitory media for use with a data processing system, such as USBmemory, hard drive, electronic media or CD-ROM. The code may bedistributed on such media, or may be distributed to users from thememory or storage of one computer system over a network of some type tostorage devices on other computer systems for use by users of such othersystems.

DEFINITIONS

“Noise” is a disturbance, including a random and persistent disturbancethat obscures or reduces the clarity of a signal.

System Description

Turning now to the drawings, reference is initially made to FIG. 1,which is a pictorial illustration of a system 10 for performingexemplary catheterization procedures on a heart 12 of a living subject,which is constructed and operative in accordance with a disclosedembodiment of the invention. The system comprises a catheter 14, whichis percutaneously inserted by an operator 16 through the patient'svascular system into a chamber or vascular structure of the heart 12.The operator 16, who is typically a physician, brings the catheter'sdistal tip 18 into contact with the heart wall at an ablation targetsite. Electrical activation maps, anatomic positional information, i.e.,of the distal portion of the catheter, and other functional images maythen be prepared using a processor 22 located in a console 24, accordingto the methods disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,226,542, and 6,301,496, andin commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,892,091, whose disclosures areherein incorporated by reference. One commercial product embodyingelements of the system 10 is available as the CARTO® 3 System, availablefrom Biosense Webster, Inc., 3333 Diamond Canyon Road, Diamond Bar,Calif. 91765, which is capable of producing electroanatomic maps of theheart as required. This system may be modified by those skilled in theart to embody the principles of the invention described herein.

Areas determined to be abnormal, for example by evaluation of theelectrical activation maps, can be ablated by application of thermalenergy, e.g., by passage of radiofrequency electrical current from aradiofrequency (RF) generator 40 through wires in the catheter to one ormore electrodes at the distal tip 18, which apply the radiofrequencyenergy to the myocardium. The energy is absorbed in the tissue, heatingit to a point (typically about 50° C.) at which it permanently loses itselectrical excitability. When successful, this procedure createsnon-conducting lesions in the cardiac tissue, which disrupt the abnormalelectrical pathway causing the arrhythmia.

The catheter 14 typically comprises a handle 20, having suitablecontrols on the handle to enable the operator 16 to steer, position andorient the distal end of the catheter as desired for the ablation. Toaid the operator 16, the distal portion of the catheter 14 containsposition sensors (not shown) that provide signals to a positioningprocessor 22, located in the console 24.

Ablation energy and electrical signals can be conveyed to and from theheart 12 through the catheter tip and an ablation electrode 32 locatedat or near the distal tip 18 via cable 34 to the console 24. Pacingsignals and other control signals may be also conveyed from the console24 through the cable 34 and the ablation electrode 32 to the heart 12.Sensing electrodes 33, also connected to the console 24 are disposedbetween the ablation electrode 32 and the cable 34.

Wire connections 35 link the console 24 with body surface electrodes 30and other components of a positioning sub-system. The electrode 32 andthe body surface electrodes 30 may be used to measure tissue impedanceat the ablation site as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 7,536,218, issued toGovari et al., which is herein incorporated by reference. A temperaturesensor (not shown), typically a thermocouple or thermistor, may bemounted on or near each of the electrode 32.

The console 24 typically contains one or more ablation power generators25. The catheter 14 may be adapted to conduct ablative energy to theheart using radiofrequency energy. Such methods are disclosed incommonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,814,733, 6,997,924, and 7,156,816,which are herein incorporated by reference.

The positioning processor 22 is an element of a positioning subsystem inthe system 10 that measures location and orientation coordinates of thecatheter 14.

In one embodiment, the positioning subsystem comprises a magneticposition tracking arrangement that determines the position andorientation of the catheter 14 by generating magnetic fields in apredefined working volume and sensing these fields at the catheter,using field generating coils 28. The positioning subsystem may employimpedance measurement, as taught, for example in U.S. Pat. No.7,756,576, which is hereby incorporated by reference, and in theabove-noted U.S. Pat. No. 7,536,218.

As noted above, the catheter 14 is coupled to the console 24, whichenables the operator 16 to observe and regulate the functions of thecatheter 14. The processor 22 is typically a computer with appropriatesignal processing circuits. The processor 22 is coupled to drive amonitor 29. The signal processing circuits typically receive, amplify,filter and digitize signals from the catheter 14, including signalsgenerated by the above-noted sensors and a plurality of location sensingelectrodes (not shown) located distally in the catheter 14. Thedigitized signals are received via cable 38 and used by the console 24and the positioning system to compute the position and orientation ofthe catheter 14 and analyze the electrical signals from the electrodes,and generate desired electroanatomic maps.

The system 10 may include an electrocardiogram (ECG) monitor 37, coupledto receive signals from one or more body surface electrodes. The ECGsignal is typically received through an interface with the console 24,e.g., a patient interface unit 42 having an analog input and an isolatedground may be used to provide an ECG synchronization signal to theconsole 24.

An electrically conductive fluid, e.g., saline, Ringer's lactate, isdelivered through a lumen 44 in the catheter 14 from a reservoir 46 viaa hydraulic line 48. The electrically conductive fluid is sometimesreferred to herein as “saline” for convenience, it being understood thatthis is by way of example and not of limitation. The lumen 44 terminatesin exit pores 50 through which the liquids emerge to cool the electrode32 and the ablation site. A peristaltic pump 52 is connected to thehydraulic line 48 and causes the fluid to be delivered to the catheter14 through an entrance port 54 at a desired rate. One difficulty withsuch an arrangement is that operation of equipment in the environment,e.g., the pump 52, produces electrical effects, which produce noise thatcan be picked up by the hydraulic line 48 and can interfere with theanalysis and display of the ECG on the monitor 37.

The electrical emissions or signals are usually observed in ECG leadsconnected to a patient who is being transfused or infused with theelectrically conductive solution. Any currents that flow in thepatient's body as a result of this potential are sensed ascharacteristic noise added to the ECG signals.

This noise has been observed in patients connected to a peristaltic pumpfor cardiac assist, dialysis treatments and irrigation of an ablationcatheter used in treating cardiac arrhythmias. Many sources have beenproposed as sources for the noise, some focusing on the pump itself.

Without being bound by any particular theory, the following discussionis offered to facilitate understanding of the embodiments disclosedherein:

In one respect the hydraulic line 48 may function as a receiving antennathat collects noise from the surrounding environment and may constitutesone source of the noise.

In another respect, the pump may be another source of electrical noise,created by a triboelectric effect, whereby an induced charge is createdon the surface of flexible tubing used in the pump and on the surface ofthe rotor surfaces used to compress the tubing. The rubbing or deformingaction of the rotor against the tubing surface displaces electricalcharge. Some of the charge is collected on the rotor and some iscollected on the tubing surface. The tubing wall is generally aninsulator, so that the external charge on the outside surface of thetube is induced on the inside of the tubing bore if the fluid in thetubing is an electrical conductor. In consequence, a generator potentialappears between the electrically conductive fluid and the pump rotor.Any electrical circuit connecting these two points allows current toflow. Such current, if sensed or intercepted by the EKG circuitry,produces undesirable signals on the EKG tracing that are perceived as“ECG noise” by the operator. Because the triboelectric potential appearsin series with the capacitance of the external and internal tubingwalls, which are generally insulators (plastic), the triboelectriccurrent has bursty characteristics.

Additionally or alternatively, The observed current may arise from apiezoelectric effect in the tubing walls.

Further additionally or alternatively, there appears to be a strongamplification mechanism resulting from the motion of the tubing walls asthey are squeezed between the rotor rollers and the pump race, causing adynamic change in tubing capacitance, which is in series with thetriboelectric charge.

The noise, as observed on an ECG leads, appears as spikes, making theECG signals difficult to interpret, and these spikes can even beconfused as ECG waves themselves. Additionally, a fast Fourier transformapplied to the noise to obtain its power spectrum finds componentsinusoids at repetition frequencies equal to the impact rate of therotor rollers (N) on the tubing surface along with higher harmonics. Therepetition frequencies are dependent on the number of rollers in arotor, and are to be distinguished from the rotor rotation rate itself.

First Embodiment

In one embodiment, the inventors have found that connecting anelectrically conductive wire 56 between the electrolytic fluid, e.g.,between the peristaltic pump effects a significant reduction in theelectrical interference.

In order to minimize the number of conductors in the area of operation,the wire 56 may be incorporated in the hydraulic line 48 leading fromthe reservoir 46.

Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which is a schematic diagram of aspectsof a cardiac catheterization irrigation system 58, and which illustratescertain electrical events that occur when the system 58 is used inmedical procedures, and which are modified in according to embodimentsof the invention.

In the system 58, saline 60 stored in an intravenous (I.V.) bottle orreservoir 62 is propelled by a peristaltic pump 64 through tubing 66,which is typically polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tubing. The pump 64comprises a rotating contact 68, which typically includes a metallicrotor or race and metallic bearings, e.g., roller bearings. The fluidcontinues through the tubing 66, and thence through a catheter 70,terminating in its distal segment 72 where various electrodes aredisposed, including sensing electrode 74, and ablation electrode 76.

A triboelectric effect occurs in parts of the system 58, particularlywhere the rotating contact 68 of the pump 64 compresses the tubing 66,which causes an triboelectric charge to build up in the saline 60. Thecharge flows through the tubing 66, propagating downstream and forming acircuit through the ablation electrode 76, and returning to the pump 64via the patient's body as shown in FIG. 2. It is believed that thetriboelectric generator in the irrigation system contributes to thespurious signals seen on the electrocardiogram. Any disturbance of thetriboelectric generator or interruption or diversion of the closed loopgenerator current so that it does not pass through the ECG electrodes issufficient to suppress this noise to a variable degree.

There are several ways to minimize the electrical potential that isgenerated between the saline and surrounding conductors and therebymitigate the spurious signals.

1) In general, the capacitance between components may be reduced byadjusting any or all parameters in the generic capacitance equation:

C=e0*eR*(EffectiveArea/EffectiveSeparation),

where C is capacitance; e0 is the vacuum dielectric constant; and eR isthe relative dielectric constant of insulators or semi-insulators placedbetween the exterior boundary of the tubing and any conductorsconstituting a return path for the generated charge. The effective area(EffectiveArea) of those conductors is the effective electrical surfacearea of the components, and the effective separation(EffectiveSeparation) is the effective distance measured parallel to theelectric field induced by the charge separation and perpendicular to theplane of the surface area upon which said charge resides.

Replacing metallic roller bearings and race with non-conductiveequivalents, such as ceramic or polymer, reduces eR from a large number(>1000) to between 1 and 11 for common ceramic dielectrics. As anexample, the race could be replaced with Delrin®, available from E. I.DuPont de Nemours & Co., Wilmington, Del. 19898. Delrin is a tough,“non-wearing” acetal homopolymer with an eR value of about 2.5. Thethicker the race, then the lower the capacitance. Replacing the rollerbearings with plastic or ceramic will also accomplish the same reductionin capacitance. Even replacing the cavity in which the steel rollersturn with a ceramic pocket will reduce the capacitance.

Altering the physical or chemical composition of the PVC tubing maysuppress charge separation. The extrusion process that forms the tubinghas the effect of orienting and aligning the PVC molecular strands.Aligned solids of this sort have piezoelectric characteristics, and canproduce charge from mechanical compression. By randomizing the molecularstrands through a heat treating process or adding an electricallyconducting material to the PVC, the charge separation potential can belargely mitigated by preventing the physical process that creates it orby effectively shorting it out.

A generative component for the observed charge buildup could also berelated to the collapse of an electric dipole layer, which forms at theinterface between the saline and the plastic tubing walls when therollers crush the walls of the tubing altering the Zeta potential. Todeal with this effect, a surface treatment applied to the inside of thetubing bore could be engineered to suppress the initial formation of thedipole layer. For example, a highly symmetric chemical structure or avery long uncharged alkyl chain would effectively weaken the usual shorthighly polar ionic dipoles that normally form. While the dipole strengthmay be weakened by reducing the ionic strength or molality of the salineat the pump, this is inconvenient because it would involve complexmixing components in order to satisfy human physiologic requirements.

Example

Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which is a schematic diagram of a testarrangement 114 using an RF signal generator, in accordance with anembodiment of the invention. An intravenous infusion pack 116,containing saline, constitutes an electrolyte fluid reservoir, asdescribed above. An electrical cable 118, leading from a line 124downstream of a drip chamber 112, is connected to saline 138 in anaquarium 150. The saline flows from the drip chamber 112 through aconnector 120 to reach the line 124, and is in electrical contact withthe cable 118. The line 124 extends from the connector 120 to a pump126.

Hydraulic lines 124, 128 interconnect the intravenous infusion pack 116,and the pump 126. An electrical Line 130 connects a handle 132 and acatheter 134 with an RF generator 136. The line 128 extends from thepump 126 to the handle 132 of catheter 134. The distal end of thecatheter 134 is inserted into the aquarium 150 containing saline 138,which emulates a human subject.

A test system 140 includes ECG circuitry 142, which is connected to adisplay 144. Four ECG leads 146 are connected to the ECG circuitry 142and to metal patches 148 that are mounted on the internal surfaces ofthe aquarium 150 in contact with the saline 138. The electrical cable118 connects the intravenous infusion pack 116 to the saline 138 in theaquarium 150.

Reference is now made to FIG. 4, which is a schematic diagram of theconnector 120 (FIG. 3), which is constructed in accordance with anembodiment of the invention. The connector 120 is tubular, having anouter metal shell 154, and a lumen filled with an electricallyconductive net or sponge 156. The sponge 156 assures extensive physicalcontact with saline flowing in the lumen of the connector 120, andincreases its conductance. An electrical connector 158 is provided onthe metal shell 154 so that electrical continuity exists between thesaline in the lumen, the sponge 156 and the cable 118.

Second Embodiment

Reference is now made to FIG. 5, which is a schematic of a system 178for reducing electrocardiogram noise, in accordance with an alternateembodiment of the invention. In this embodiment electrolyte-containingfluid in a reservoir 220 is pumped into an intravascular catheter 222 bya pump 224 is electrically connected to a subject 180 by a connector 226and an electrically conductive cable 182, for example using a bodysurface electrode pad or needle electrode 184 attached to a limb orother portion of the body of the subject 180, or to a patient ground.The connector 226 may have the same structure as the connector 120 (FIG.4), The cable 182 may be shielded. The connector 226 is placed in ahydraulic line 228 or on a stopcock downstream from the reservoir 220.Preferably the connector 158 is disposed downstream of the pump 224.

Reference is now made to FIG. 6, which presents recorded ECG data whenthe system 178 (FIG. 5) is in operation, in accordance with anembodiment of the invention. The data were recorded using the CARTO 3system, a NaviStar® Thermo-Cool® catheter, and a SmartAblate™ pump(available from Cordis Corporation). The RF ablation generator was notactive. An aquarium was used to simulate a patient, as described abovewith reference to FIG. 3.

ECG strip 232 is a baseline tracing, before attachment of the cable 182.Background noise is shown, with a magnitude of about 0.02 mV.

In ECG strip 234 the pump is active. Noise has increased to a value ofabout 0.07 mV.

In ECG strip 236 the pump remains in operation. The cable 182 has beenconnected thereby shorting the saline in the irrigation tubing to salinebath water. The noise level has returned to the baseline value of about0.02 mV.

Third Embodiment

Reference is now made to FIG. 7, which is a schematic of a system 188for reducing electrocardiogram noise, in accordance with an alternateembodiment of the invention. The arrangement in FIG. 7 is similar thatof FIG. 5. However, a wire 238 now extends from the connector 226 to anelectrode 240 located on the catheter 222, but proximal to electrodes 32and 33, for example in the inferior vena cava.

Alternatively, the electrode 240 may be disposed on a second catheter(not shown), which has been introduced into the subject, for exampleinto the vascular system or the gastrointestinal tract. The wire 238 isrerouted to the electrode 240 mutatis mutandis.

Fourth Embodiment

Reference is now made to FIG. 8, which is a schematic diagram of anarrangement 204 of an infusion system, in accordance with an alternateembodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, a saline solution 205in tubing 206 is shorted to a peristaltic pump 208 using a wire 210 thatextends from a connector 212 to a metal rotor 214 or rollers in the pump208. The wire 210 electrically connects the saline solution 205 that ispropelled by the pump 208 through the tubing 206, thereby shorting outthe tribo-generator. The connection may alternatively be realized by anelectrically conductive nipple whose inside surface is in contact withthe saline and whose body is connected to the current return side of thepump rotor. ECG data is obtained via PIU input 102 in console 186 fromelectrode 241 on catheter 242

The arrangement 204 has been tested using a saline surrogate for apatient tissue model similar to the test arrangement shown in FIG. 3.The irrigation peristaltic pump pushes normal saline through tubingconnected to the nipple and further attached to an irrigated catheterwithin the patient's body. The current flowing through the salinechannel in the catheter and into the patient is the source for the ECGnoise signal.

Fifth Embodiment

Reference is now made to FIG. 9, which is a schematic diagram of anarrangement 216 of an infusion system, in accordance with an alternateembodiment of the invention. The arrangement 216 is similar to thearrangement 204 (FIG. 8). However, shorting the generator potential isaccomplished by forming an electrical connection between the pump 208and the drip chamber 112 or other fluid source feeding the input side ofthe pump by a wire 218 or by a conductive nipple. By shorting the salinein tubing 206 to the rotor or pump frame, the generator potential iseffectively short circuited on the input side of the pump 208 ratherthan on the output side as in the previous embodiment.

Sixth Embodiment

Referring again to FIG. 9, the embodiments described above can befurther modified by mitigating the surface charge of the tubing. One wayto accomplish this is by coating the outer surface of the tubing orhydraulic line with any material containing liquid water and an ionicsurfactant that renders the water slightly electrically conductive andthe tubing surface hydrophilic. Coating may be accomplished bysquirting, spraying, or rubbing saline, hand soap or electrode gel onthe outside of the tubing. While the foregoing description applies to avery broad class of substances, it has been found that certain materialswere particularly effective in disrupting the triboelectric generator,namely ordinary hand soap, saline, and electrode gel.

Non-conductors such as lubricating oil were also tested in an attempt todisrupt the surface of the triboelectric generator. These altered thepotential depending on how dry or poorly conductive the oil. Dry orpoorly conductive oil was less effective than oil mixed with water orhaving conductive properties. Oil mixed with three-micron aluminumflakes constitute a very effective disrupting agent, but do notcompletely suppress the potential, because the conduction mechanismappears to be capacitive coupling between aluminum particles, ratherthan ionic conductivity as in water. As soon as the water in any ofthese preparations evaporates, the triboelectric generator returns toits original potential, reinstituting electrical noise.

Alternatively, the outer surface of the tubing may be coated with anelectrical conductor, so that mechanical contact with the metallic rotor214 is essentially metal-on-metal. Indium tin oxide is suggested.Wrapping the tubing in aluminum foil so that the contact point ismetallic roller on foil completely eliminates triboelectric charging.

Alternatively, impregnating the plastic material of the tubing withanti-static chemical additives, e.g., metal particles, so that thetubing walls are slightly conductive, shorts out the triboelectricgenerator. These chemical additives tend to be hydrophilic attractingwater molecules to bind with the plastic surface or volume so that it isslightly electrically conductive.

Further alternatively, adding “anti-static” chemical additives to theouter surface of the tubing is also effective.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the presentinvention is not limited to what has been particularly shown anddescribed hereinabove. Rather, the scope of the present inventionincludes both combinations and sub-combinations of the various featuresdescribed hereinabove, as well as variations and modifications thereofthat are not in the prior art, which would occur to persons skilled inthe art upon reading the foregoing description.

1. A catheterization system, comprising: a flexible catheter adapted forinsertion into a heart of a living subject, having a distal portion anda lumen for passing an electrically conductive fluid therethrough toexit the catheter at the distal portion, the lumen connectable to anirrigation pump to form a fluid communication therewith; a fluidreservoir connected to the lumen for supplying the electricallyconductive fluid to the catheter; electrocardiogram circuitryconnectable to the subject for monitoring electrical activity in theheart, the electrocardiogram circuitry having an input; and anelectrically conductive cable linking the electrically conductive fluidof the fluid reservoir to an electrode that is in contact with thesubject.
 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the catheter hasmapping electrodes disposed on the distal portion and the electrode islocated on the catheter proximal to the mapping electrodes.
 3. Thesystem according to claim 1, wherein the electrode is located on asecond catheter that is introduced into the subject.
 4. The systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the catheter has an inlet port and aconnector electrically contacts the electrically conductive fluid at theinlet port, and connects the electrically conductive fluid to a patientground.
 5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the electricallyconductive cable is electrically connected to the electricallyconductive fluid downstream of the irrigation pump.
 6. The systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive cable is ametallically shielded cable.
 7. A catheterization system, comprising: aflexible catheter adapted for insertion into a heart of a livingsubject, having a distal portion and a lumen for passing an electricallyconductive fluid therethrough to exit the catheter at the distalportion; a fluid reservoir connected by a hydraulic line to the lumenfor supplying the electrically conductive fluid to the catheter; a pumpfor propelling the electrically conductive fluid to the lumen of thecatheter, the pump having a frame and a rotating element that acts uponthe hydraulic line; and an electrically conductive cable forming anelectrical connection between the electrically conductive fluid in thehydraulic line and the rotating element.
 8. The system according toclaim 7, wherein the rotating element is metallic.
 9. The systemaccording to claim 7, wherein the rotating element is formed from aceramic.
 10. The system according to claim 7, wherein the rotatingelement is formed from a polymer.
 11. The system according to claim 7,wherein the rotating element is formed from an acetal homopolymer. 12.The system according to claim 7, wherein the electrically conductivecable connects to the frame of the pump.
 13. The system according toclaim 7, wherein the electrically conductive cable connects to therotating element of the pump.
 14. The system according to claim 7,wherein the rotating element is electrically non-conductive.
 15. Thesystem according to claim 7, wherein the electrical connection with theelectrically conductive fluid is downstream from the pump.
 16. Thesystem according to claim 7, wherein the electrical connection with theelectrically conductive fluid is upstream from the pump.
 17. The systemaccording to claim 7, wherein a portion of an outer surface of thehydraulic line is coated with an antistatic chemical, the portioncontacting the outer surface with the rotating element of the pump. 18.The system according to claim 7, wherein a portion of an outer surfaceof the hydraulic line is coated with an antistatic chemical selectedfrom the group consisting of soap water, saline and water, the portioncontacting the outer surface with the rotating element of the pump. 19.The system according to claim 7, wherein a portion of an outer surfaceof the hydraulic line is coated with an electrical conductor, theportion contacting the outer surface with the rotating element of thepump.
 20. A method for monitoring electrical activity, comprising thesteps of: connecting a reservoir of an electrically conductive fluid toa peristaltic pump, the peristaltic pump having a rotating element and aframe, wherein the peristaltic pump exerts a force on a hydraulic lineto cause the electrically conductive fluid to flow through the hydraulicline; connecting electrocardiogram circuitry to a subject; forming anelectrical connection between the electrically conductive fluid and theperistaltic pump; operating the peristaltic pump to cause theelectrically conductive fluid to flow from the reservoir into thesubject; and while operating the peristaltic pump, monitoring electricalactivity in a heart of the subject with the electrocardiogram circuitry.21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the electrical connectionis formed with the frame of the peristaltic pump.
 22. The methodaccording to claim 20, wherein the electrical connection is formed withthe rotating element of the peristaltic pump.
 23. The method accordingto claim 20, wherein the rotating element is metallic.
 24. The methodaccording to claim 20, wherein the rotating element is electricallynon-conductive.
 25. The method according to claim 20, wherein a portionof the hydraulic line is coated with an electrical conductor, furthercomprising contacting the portion with the rotating element.
 26. Themethod according to claim 25, wherein the electrical conductor is indiumtin oxide.
 27. The method according to claim 25, wherein the electricalconductor is aluminum foil.
 28. The method according to claim 20,wherein the hydraulic line is impregnated with an anti-static chemical.29. The method according to claim 20, wherein an outer surface of aportion of the hydraulic line is coated with a material containingliquid water and an ionic surfactant, further comprising contacting theportion with the rotating element.
 30. The method according to claim 29,wherein the material is selected from the group consisting of hand soap,saline, an oil-water mixture, and electrode gel.
 31. The methodaccording to claim 20, wherein a portion of the hydraulic line isimpregnated with an anti-static chemical, further comprising contactingthe portion with the rotating element.
 32. The method according to claim20, wherein a portion of an outer surface of the hydraulic line iscoated with an anti-static chemical, further comprising contacting theportion with the rotating element.